own, placed it upon his head; then saying something in the Delaware
tongue, he entered the hut.

Within, the mountain dwelling was as wild as without. From the brown
beams overhead were suspended strings of onions, tin vessels, bridles,
dried venison, and a thousand other things, mingled in inextricable
confusion. In the wide fire-place, which was supplied with stones for
and-irons, a portion of the lately slaughtered deer was broiling on
an impromptu and primitive species of gridiron, which would have
disgusted Soyer and astonished Vatel. This had caused the smoke; and
as Verty entered, the old woman had been turning the slices. Longears
and Wolf were already stretched before the fire, their eyes fixed upon
the venison with admiring attention and profound seriousness.

In ten minutes the venison was done, and Verty and his mother ate in
silence--Verty not forgetting his dogs, who growled and contended for
the pieces, and then slept upon the rude pine floor.

The boy then went to some shelves in the corner, just by the narrow
flight of steps which led to the old woman's room above, and taking
down a long Indian pipe, filled it with tobacco, and lit it. This
having been accomplished, he took his seat on a sort of wicker-work
bench, just outside of the door, and began to smoke with all the
gravity and seriousness of a Sachem of the Delawares.

In a moment he felt the hand of the old woman on his shoulder.

"Verty has been asleep and dreamed something," she said, calmly, in
the Delaware tongue.